Curb-box.



No. 872,458. PATENTED DEC. 3, 1907, F. T. SANBORN & c. H. YOUNG.

CURB BOX.

APPLICATION IILED NOV. 20. 1906.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FLOYD T. SANBORN AND CLINTON H. YOUNG, OF YOUNGSTOWN, OHIO.

CURB-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 3, 1907.

Application filed November 20, 1906. Serial No. 344.301;

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, FLOYD T. SANBORN and CLINTON H. YOUNG, citizens of the United States, residing at Youngstown, in the county of Mahoning and State of Ohio, have invented a new and useful Curb-Box, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to curb boxes for incasing stop cocks of gas or water service pipes, and similar devices buried in the ground, and it relates more particularly to a curb box in which the parts are securely clamped to the service pipe in position over the cock, so as to prevent displacement of the box for any reason, and thus do away with the necessity of removing the box e11- tirely to gain access to the cock, which process is often necessary with the ordinary curb box that merely rests 011 the pipe.

The invention has for one of its objects to provide a curb box which is of comparatively simple, inexpensive and substantial constructionand capable of being readily and firmly secured in place around the stop cock, so that accessibility to the latter is always afforded and which also effectively prevents the entrance of dirt, stones, or other matter over and around the cock.

A further object of the invention is the provision of 'a simple and substantial cap for the box which is so constructed and secured to the latter that displacement or breakage by wagon wheels passing over the same is prevented, and that ready removal is permitted when access to the stop cock is desired.

With these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the inven tion, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the box showing the parts thereof in elevation. Fig. 2 is a similar view taken on a plane at right angles to that of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a transverse section on the line 33 of Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view of a modified form of the device.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

Referringto the drawing, A designates a stop cock of ordinary construction connected in the service pipe 15 and housed in the curb box O. The curb box comprises a two part casing or housing 1 and a clamping sleeve 2 surrounding the casing and securing the parts thereof in fixed position with respect to the stop cock A. The casing l is composed of two parts 3 which are seini-tubular and cooperate to form a cylindrical structure through the hollow of which access to the stop cock is had. The lower ends of the members 3 are enlarged at s to form a chamber 5 for receiving the stop cock. The longitudinal meeting edges (5 are cut away at '7 in the shape of semi-circular notches, which notches cooperate to form a circular opening through which the ends of the service pipe B extend. Thus the lower ends of the members 3 are formed into jaws for gripping around the service pipe adjacent the ends of the stop cock. As shown in Fig. 1, the notches 7 closely encircle the service pipe, and the end walls of the chamber 5 are dis posed adjacent the ends of the cock, so that lateral displacement of the casing 1 with re spect to the stop cock is prevented by the engagement of the said walls with the cock. Furthermore, by means of the hook-shaped jaws, formed at the lower ends of the 'members 3 by the notches 7, thc-casing is pre vented from moving vertically independently of the pipe B.

The two parts of the casing may be secured together in any desired manner. By preference, however, the said parts are held in place by means of the sleeve 2 that is adjustably locked to the casing 1 in such a way as to prevent the members 3 from disengaging from the pipe B and to permit the sleeve to be adjusted to dill'crent heights according to the depth of the pipe below the surface of the ground or street. For this purpose, the easing 1 is provided with two diametrically arcuate lugs S which cover about ninety degrees of the periphery thereof and which interlock between any two adjacent internal lugs 9 on the sleeve 2. ,The lugs 9 are of such a length as to pass freely between the adjacent ends of the lugs 8 on the exterior of the casingso that the sleeve can be adjusted vertically to any desired height. hen the proper adjustment is reached, a quarter turn of the sleeve causes the lugs 8 to be inter locked between the two pairs of adjacent lugs 9.

On the upper end of the sleeve are diametrically arranged internal lips 10 under which engage the undercut lugs 11 on the cap 12. The cap is secured to the sleeve by engaging the lugs 11 between the lips 10 and then imparting a partial turn to the cap so as to cause the undercut lugs to interlock under the lips. By this means,the cap is securely held in place and cannot be accidentally displaced by the passage of vehicle wheels, or other objects coming in contact therewith. The cap is preferably a metal casting of substantial construction, and the periphery thereof is flush with the sleeve 2, so that the latter forms an eflicient support for the exposed edges of the cap, so that the latter cannot be easily broken.

The members 3 of the casing 1 are preferably formed somewhat after the fashion of the parts of a pair of scissors. That is to say, each member 3 is constructed with oppositely disposed semi-tubular portions 13, 14, united by the intermediate connecting; portion 15. One of the members 3 is made of smaller diameter than the other, so thatthe connecting portion of the member of smaller diameter can be disposed within the connect ing portion of the member of larger diameter. As shown in Fig. 2, these connecting portions 15 cross each other and form the joint whereby the two members 3 can be manipulated so as to swing the jaw ends thereof apart or together to adjust the said members around the pipe B for inclosing the stop cook. The member of smaller diameter is provided at its meeting edges with vertically extending projections 16 that engage the meeting edges of the member of larger diameter and thereby prevent the members from collapsing too far.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily un derstood. In operation, the curb box is applied by opening the members 3 of the casing so that the jaw ends thereof can be assembled over the stop cock and around the service pipe. The members are then closed and the sleeve 2 applied and adjusted, so that the top end thereof will be at such a height that the cap 12 will be flush with the street or surface of the ground. Then this adjustment is reached, the sleeve is turned to lock the same to the casing whereby the two parts of the latter are firmly locked to the service pipe around the stop cook. The cap 12 is then positioned on the sleeve so as to keep out the dirt during the filling-in operation. Since the boX is firmly locked to the pipe, there is no danger of displacement during the filling-in of the dirt, or for any other reason.

The various parts of the curb boX are of simple and substantial construction and are preferably made by casting, although, if desire'd, they can be made in any other way. The arrangement of the parts enables the curb boX to be set up or taken down with I great facility. --In the modification shown in Fig. 4, the means with which the lugs 8 and the member 13 interlock take the form of corrugati ns 9 in the tubular casing 2. By using wrought iron tubing, these corrugations can be readily formed and, over the lugs 9 shown in Fig. 1, they have the advantage of greater strength. v

We have described the principle of operation of the invention, together with the apparatus which we now consider to be the best embodiment thereof, but we desire to have it understood that the device shown is merely illustrative, and that'various changes may be made, when desired, as are within the scope of the invention.

What is claimed is 1. In a device of the class described, the combination of two relatively movable members having hook-shaped ends for gripping around a pipe, a housing for the'members to hold them in gripping position, and means for adjustably securing the housing directly to the members.

2. In a device of the class described, the combination of two tubular members having adjacent ends formed to interlock with a stop cock service-pipe, one member extending into the other and arranged to permit of a scissors-like movement, and means associated with the members for holding the latter in position.

3. In a device of the class described, the combination of two semi-tubular members having oppositely disposed pipe engaging notches, and an inclosing sleeve detachably engaging around and longitudinally adjustable on the members to hold the notched ends thereof in gripping position on a pipe.

4. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of members having 0ppositely disposed semi-tubular ends and assembled to have a scissors-like movement, means at the ends of the members for gripping around a pipe, and a sleeve arranged to hold the members in gripping relation and adjustable longitudinally thereof.

5. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of members having oppositely disposed semi-tubular end portions and assembled to have a scissors-like movement, a sleeve surrounding the members, interlocking lugs between the sleeves and members, and a cap on the upper end of the sleeve.

6. In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of members having oppositely disposed semi-tubular end portions and assembled to have a scissors-like movethe members, a plurality of internal vertically spaced lugs on the sleeve, lugs on one of the members, a cap at the upper end of the sleeve having a periphery flush with the sleeve, and interlocking means between the sleeve and cap for removably holding the latter in place.

7 In a device of the class described, the combination of a pair of members having oppositely disposed semi-tubular end portions and assembled to have a scissors-like movement and provided With oppositely disposed notches at one end, one of the members being of smaller diameter than the other so as to fit in the latter, projections on the member of smaller diameter for engaging the other member, op ositely dis osed lugs on the member of larger diameter, a structure surrounding the members, a plurality of spaced lugs on the said structure arranged to engage the lugs on the said member for vertically adjusting the structure, and a cap removably secured to the upper end of the structure.

In testimony that we claim the foregoing as our own, we have hereto affixed our s1gna- 25 tures in the presence of two witnesses.

FLOYD T. SANBORN. CLINTON H. YOUNG.

Witnesses:

GRACE M. GILGEN, O. W. GILGEN. 

